Perfume by Patrick Suskind

Originally penned in German under the name Das Perfum, this classic piece of mid-eighties literature shows France for all it's fetid and reeking glory. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is a strange child, death seems to follow him wherever he may go, any time he leaves the company of someone, they seem to die a rather horrific death. You may think that this smell of death would linger around such a person, but not Grenouille, he has the best nose in Paris, possibly even in the world, but he himself has no outwards scent to the world.

In this novel, we follow Grenouille through eighteenth-century Paris, not through his visual narration, but instead through his olfactory instincts. Grenouille collects the scents and odours that he comes across, and builds them up in his mind until he can remember them so clearly he can concoct the most wonderful perfumes ever created just using his imagination. All Grenouille wants to do is create the physical embodiment of these perfumes, and no fatal illness or fatigue will stop him.

What is quite a simple idea, a boy with a fantastic sense of smell, turns into something so exciting. Slightly twisted, but completely clever, this novel will certainly entertain even the stranger parts of your fancy. Throughout the novel, there are twists and shocks and reveals that you would have never expected. There is never a peaceful moment in Jean-Baptiste's life until the very end.

If you want to try something different, I would definitely recommend this book. Although, you may find it a little too strange for your liking.

I would give this novel an Original rating, as I believe it is completely different to anything I have ever read.

Thank you to Miss. Hall for giving me this book to enjoy.

Happy Reading!

Reviewed by Lauren Goodfellow